Joined: April 27, 2002 Posts: 11303 Location: Seattle WA
Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 7:22 pm Post subject: 1974 Westfalia Weekender
With all the talk in the last thread about tin top westy-I finaly went out to look closer at the one I know of. I was floored again at how nice it was in many ways. It originaly caught my eye as one of the best preserved interiors Id seen at the yard-Look up "Texas Gold" in the photo archives. I didnt pay that much attention to it till I visited the yard with my girlfriend-looking for a suitable project last year. She loved the interior also but I did scoff it off as its not a "true" westy So now Im back for a better look to maybe buy it to save it and maybe pass it on? But I do admit the longer I look the more I like it.
So lets get some value-prices-pick it apart other than the obvious-pros-cons. Throw me some questions. I want to know what the vw world thinks before I buy it. I personaly love the carbs-but am unsure about the auto trans-only because I like manual on a VW not that Im phobic about auto.
The body-although has rust is all surface-otherwise very SOLID! The bumpers are straight, its all there(for the most part) That interior-other than being a storage shed for SP motors is real nice and clean-no material rot yet. Even the door rubbers still look good
I think if the motor works-it would need a good clean-fresh outside paint-brakes gone through-some new feet (tires) and it would be awsome.
Joined: February 12, 2004 Posts: 23841 Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, Land of the giant flying moose!
Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 7:41 pm Post subject:
Dayum, that is pretty clean once you see past the outer layer of fungal growth. Count on windshield lip issues and maybe some drip rail rot, how's the rockers and floors?
Nothing wrong with an auto, many have withstood some epic journeys, also a bonus for resale as alot of todays hippie dreamers can't drive stick _________________ Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.
Wanted, 68-73 westy OG plaid curtains, singles OK.
Joined: March 20, 2009 Posts: 992 Location: Bend, Orygun
Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 7:49 pm Post subject:
Looks like a pretty solid '74 Weekender to me. Interior looks great... those 2 year only green door panels are in great shape. Is there a stove in the cabinet behind the passenger seat? Can't make out a propane tank. Probably going to need some rust repair around the windshield but you could get lucky. Not sure what the TX market is like, but I'd say $500-750 would be a pretty good deal for that bus. _________________ 1975 Westfalia Helsinki - 1800 EFI w/ Pertronix
1965 Singlecab - 1600dp
Joined: April 27, 2002 Posts: 11303 Location: Seattle WA
Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 8:18 pm Post subject:
From what I can tell it has no rot-nada. Only those spots where the paint was off-pitted surface. The corners are nice-the dog legs-both wells. The carpet on the floor looks mint! I hope the motors didnt f it up with oil. I didnt look in the other cabinet. The one by the slider is a fridge with storage on top-did it have something in it? Rockers are solid. The rubber arounf the rear hatch look perfect at first glance too. Most of the issues I see are pitting-surface rust. It will all need to be brought down-filled with build primer.
Im looking to settle on it maybe this week. Well see what he wants but it seems everthing he has is $2500. _________________ Jason "notchboy" Weigel
1963 Pearl White Sunroof Notch
1964 T34 S Convertible
1974 Westfalia Hardtop Campmobile 1977 Westfalia Camper pop-top
Joined: November 08, 2005 Posts: 307 Location: Pitt Meadows, BC Canada
Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 10:06 pm Post subject:
This should be a 74 P21. Icebox, no stove, propane tank or second battery. Check the VIN on the driver's door post. 73's had the old style Westfalia interior. Should be a westfalia serial # on the lower bed face too.
I had one of these. Bought it brand new and regret that I ever sold it. There were only 4 -74 P21's sold in greater Vancouver BC where I live. None were autos but they did come with the BN4 gas heater in the engine compartment. Most folks wanted the pop up roof for the extra sleeping capacity.
The only drawback to the interior is the lack of hauling space. Many folks took the icebox cabinet out to haul stuff. I actually found an icebox cabinet a couple of weeks ago. Had been sitting in a guy's garage for 20 years. He sold the van and never put the cabinet back in. The 76 and later layout is more practical but the lower bed is much smaller. My opinion at least.
I am in the process of creating the 74 P21 interior and putting it into a 79 bus that originally came from California. Won't be original but hopefully it will be as functional. Love to have that cupboard over the bed (called the headbanger) and the ceiling panels or at least the metal attaching pieces.
If you are at all interested, have a very good look under the bus for rust. Check the gutter/drip rail area and around the windshield. Everything else can be rebuilt, including the cabinets. These do look good, nonetheless.
If it was around here it would be in my yard by now!!
Joined: April 28, 2007 Posts: 1769 Location: New Caledonia
Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 1:46 am Post subject: Re: 1973 Westfalia Weekender
notchboy wrote:
I want to know what the vw world thinks before I buy it.
As you asked the vw world , I might say what I think :
Buy, clean, fix, and then keep it or sell, but it sure is worth saving. Once fixed, you'll probably want to keep... _________________ 1976 181/Thing (daily driver), 1967 fastback, 1973 squareback, 1964 microbus, 1967 Double Cab, 1969 westfalia (currently under resto), 1972 westfalia, 1978 westfalia, 1972 LM1C dune buggy, 1974 jean's bug, 1974 1303 (super beetle, currently under reassembly after new paint) + 2 semi wrecks 181 (1971 and 1972)...
Joined: April 27, 2002 Posts: 11303 Location: Seattle WA
Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 7:00 am Post subject: Re: 1973 Westfalia Weekender
Pierre G wrote:
notchboy wrote:
I want to know what the vw world thinks before I buy it.
As you asked the vw world , I might say what I think :
Buy, clean, fix, and then keep it or sell, but it sure is worth saving. Once fixed, you'll probably want to keep...
Yes, Im afraid of this. Im walking into George's(Tram) 77 westy here soon. Ill be flying into Portland the 8th and driving it down to the Classic (hope to meet some of you) then hanging a left after the Classic and coming back home to San Antonio. That adventure will be a totally different thread
But that pre disposse me to get this saved before it rots any more, clean it, fix it then
Joined: September 30, 2004 Posts: 2159 Location: Northern New Mexico
Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 8:04 am Post subject: Re: 1973 Westfalia Weekender
notchboy wrote:
Now, I'd like to know what that is, exactly, sitting on the mounts over the engine. Would that have something to do with air conditioning? If so, I might be interested in that part if you pick up this bus (you should) and you don't want that piece.
I think my '73 Westy (outfitting with AC) needs that part. _________________ John
"The bus came by and I got on. That's when it all began..." - Garcia/Weir/Kreutzman
Long gone: 1969 and '78 CE Transporters, Westies: 71, 76, 77, 76, 77, 71, 73, 77
For sale: 1974 Westy Automatic
Current projects: 1975 Single Cab, 1978 RHD Double Cab 2.0-L FI
http://vw.tauxe.net
Joined: April 27, 2002 Posts: 11303 Location: Seattle WA
Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2010 6:41 pm Post subject: 1974 Auto Weekender
Well its been rescued. I spent the first day moving several items in the junk yard just to get to it. That absolutly drained me. But when it was her turn to move-the tires aired right up and none of the drums were locked. She wanted to leave after sitting for 21 years! The odometer has 50k on it and I belive it to be true based on the straight lines and nice interior. The bumpers on this bus are crazy straight. I havnt seen a dent as of yet eithor. If leaves hadnt got down the rt rear air intake the battery tray wouldnt have rotted out as well as leaves making the gutters pit bad as well. Those are the worst of it so far. The front floor-dog legs-wheel wells-rockers-and every where else is og German steel rock solid! More than I expected seeing the pics in the begining of this post.
The girlfriend and I spent a day cleaning her out. I cleaned the carpet and seats with my other "van". The sun faded alot of the color but it all still looks amazing for the age. Only the slider side cabint is peeling the laminite. I can fix that-but other than that the cabinets are sweet.
I threw a battery in her and most the stuff works. The water pump for the sink does and it actualy surprised me as the other two busses in my possetion dont The motor turns and the key in the ignition buzzer squeals.
Next it will be time for eithor the brakes or the motor. Change all the fluids and see if she drives
Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2010 7:54 pm Post subject: Re: 1973 Westfalia Weekender
notchboy wrote:
. She loved the interior also but I did scoff it off as its not a "true" westy
It is a "true" westy. I guess you meant because it doesn't have a poptop?
Great find! A pressure washing/CLR job/buff would do wonders for that one. Get some color matched paint and fix and blend those rust spots and that thing will look fantastic. I wish it were mine.
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So now Im back for a better look to maybe buy it to save it and maybe pass it on? But I do admit the longer I look the more I like it.
